Automatic cut-out fob electric generators



APPLICATION HLED AUG-24,1917.

Paw tented July 1,

,, flQVEUTBw PEDP I to one skilled in the .my generator with the cover UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. sexism or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, rssmnon 'ro SPLITDORF ELECTRICAL COMPANY, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC (.lU'IP-O'U'l FOR ELECTRIC GENERATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 24, 1917. Serial No. 187,944. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY citizen of the United States,

E. Boncnn, a residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of Electric Generators, of which the following is a specification.

In the use of electric. generators for automotive vehicles it is general practice to use electromagnetic devices for switching the generator on and off the storage battery which is customarily used on such vehicles for the purpose ofopcrating starting motors and lights and other accessories. I

It is the object of my invention to provide a mechanical device for controlling the working circuit of such a generator, which device will be much simpler and less eX-.

pensive than the electromagnetic switching arrangen'ient now in general use.

While providing av simple and inexpensive device for this work, it is another object of my invention to provide a device that is re,- sponsive to an ever-present and electrically unchanging forc whereby the control of the generator Working circuit is rendered positive and accurate.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic cutout which is easy to install and readily gotten at renewals in case of necessity.

These and other objects will be apparent art after a study of the draw ngs taken in connection with the annexed specification.

In the drawing-Figure 1 is a side View of for protecting the automatic cut out parts removed.

Figta is a left hand endview of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the cover used to protect the commutator end and cutout mechanism.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the governor forming a part of the automatic cutout.

Fig. 6 is adiagrammatic arrangement of one type of work circuit used in connection with the generator.

Referring now particularly to the details, 1- is a generator having an armature whose commutator is shown at 2. In Fig. 1 a brush 3 is shown resting on the conunut-ator. One

- slightly for repairs or are normally end of the armature shaft projects at 4 for the purpose of mounting a driving pulley or gear thereon. A commutator end bearing head 5 is held to the body of the generator by bolts 6 which pass through the interior framework and engage bosses (not shown) on the interior of head 5. he other end of the generator armature shaft projects through the head at 7. The end 7 is bored out at 8 forming a hollow chamber. A pin 9 is mounted in the hollow end 8 substantially at right angles to the shaft, spacing collars 11 being used for separating a weight member in theform of a ring 12. The pin 9 is flattenedv off at 13 to form a cam. The end of pin 9 is preferably slotted at 14 so that the .pin may be set with the flat or cam surface 'hold the ring member 12 in position on the pin 9. Supported in the hollow end 8 is a. thrust member 15 whose end is preferably rounded at 16 for a purposewhich will be hereinafter described. Mounted on the commutator head 5 is a bracket 17 upon which is pivotally mounted a movable member 18 having two arms 19 and 20. In the end of arm 19 is fastened a wearing piece 21 preferably of fiber or some other material. Associated with the movable member 18 is a s ring 22 of any suitable type, but shown in ig. 1 as of the bifurcated type, one end of which rests against, the bracket 17 and the other a ainst a portion of the arm 20. One part 0 the arm 20 carries a contact 23. Mounted in a relatively fixed position on the bracket 17 but insulated therefrom is a spring member 24 which carries contact-25 that is adapted to cooperate with the contact 23 on the arm 20 of the movable member 18. The function of spring 22 is to normally keep the contacts 23 and 25 separate at the same time it carries the arm 19 of the member18 in such position that the wearing member 15 so that the cam 13 and ring 12 held in a position shown-in the generator is not in opera- Fig. 1 when tion.

It will be secnthat the movable member 18 is used for the double purpose of controlling the working circuit of the generator through the contacts 23 and 25 and to return the governor mechanism to its normal inoperative position, thus eliminating the use of any further resilient member at the governor itself for this latter purpose.

A cover 26 is adapted to fit over the commutator head 5 inclosing the commutator,

in a certain position in Fig. 6 it is to be understood that this position is adjustable for the purpose of getting the required output at the desired speed of the generator. The main brush 3 is connected internally to the binding post 31 and the brush 28 to the spring member 24. Since the movable member 18 is connected to the frame of the generator which is ground, the circuit from the generator will be completed through the battery B as soon as the contacts 23 and 25 are closed as above described. H illustrates a head lamp and S side lamp, both being controlled by separate switches 32 and 33.

It will be understood that the parts of the automatic cutout are adjusted so that the working circuit of the generator will not be closed until the voltage has reached a value slightly above that of the battery B. When the. voltage of the generator has reached this predetermined point the weight member 12 is operated by centrifugal force to turn the member 12 at right angles to the shaft 7. In doing this the pin 9 and cam 13 are turned, which operation pushes the thrust member 15 outward against the wearing piece 21 thereby operating the movable arm 18 to close the contacts 23 and It will be also seen that the member 12'is self-regulating as to the amount which it pushes the thrust member 15 outward. That is to say,

the member 12 under the effect of centrifugal force will move to a position so that the pressure of the contacts 23 and 25 never exceed a given amount no matter how fast the generator is run. This gives a definite minimum pressure to the contacts and a definite minimum amount of wear between the wearing piece 21 and the thrust memberlfi which is a very important feature of my invention.

, The generator shown in the various views is particularly adaptable for charging a batteryand lighting lamps on a.motorcyclc but it is also applicable to any other moving vehicles and I do not wish to be lim ited to any particular application.

It will be clearly apparent that numerous changes and alterations may be made in the details of various parts of my invention be acted on by said thrust member to ing a hollow end, a pin extending through the hollow end of said shaft, a thrust member seated in said hollow shaft end and adapted to be acted on by said. pin, a circular member sup )orted on said shaft by said pin and adapted to be acted on by centrifugal force assaid shaft rotates, a fixed spring member carrying a contact and a movable member carrying 'a contact and adapted to be operated by said thrust member whereby the movement of said circular member operates said contacts.

2. In an automatic cutout for electrical generators, the combination of a shaft having a hollow end, a pin extending through the hollow end of said shaft, said pin having a flat portion normally facing toward the end of said shaft, a thrust member carried in the hollow end of the shaft and normallyresting against the flat portion of said .pin, an annular ring member supported on said shaft by said pin and adapted to be acted on by centrifugal force to turn said pin against the thrust member as said shaft rotates, a fixed spring contact member and a movable contact member'adapted to close an electrical circuit.

3. In an automatic cutout for electrical generators, the combination of a shaft having a hollow end, a pin extending through the hollow end of said shaft, a thrust member seated in said hollow shaft end and adapted to be acted on by said pin. a circular member supported on said shaft by said pin and adapted to be actcdon by centrifugal force as said shaft rotates, a fixed spring member carrying a contact and a movable member carrying a contact and means acting on the last mentioned member to normally hold said contacts in open pos tion and to hold the thrust member, pin and circular member also in normal position.

4. In an automatic cutout for electrical generators, the combination of a shaft having a hollow end, a pin extending through the hollow end of said shaft, said pin having a flat portion normally facing toward the end of said shaft, a thrust member carricd in the hollow end of the shaft and normally resting against the flat portion of said pin, an annular ring member supported on said shaft by said pin and adapted to be acted on by centrifugal force to turn said pin against the thrust member as said shaft rotates. a relatively fixed member carrying a contact, an L shaped movable member carrying a cooperating contact on one 130 of its arms and-a wearing piece on the other arm adapted to be engaged by said thrust member, means acting on said movable memher to resist the action of the thrust member whereby the thrust member is returned toits normal position when the electrical generator is stopped or its speed reduced to a predetermined value and the said contacts tion in the hollow shaft, a ring mounted on the ends ofthe pin and adapted to be acted on by centrifugal force to turn the pin, a

thrust member seated in the hollow shaft and adapted to be acted on by said cam portion; anda relatively fixed member carrying a contact mounted on the generator, and a second member carrying a contact adapted to cooperate with the first, said second member being. movably mounted on the generator in a position to be acted on by said governor for the purpose described.

6. In an automatic cutout for electrical generators, the combination of-a governor .havin the followin instrumentalities. a

hollow shaft end,a pin extending through "said hollow shaft end and havinga cam portion in the hollow shaft, a ring mounted on the ends of the pin and adapted to be acted on by centrifugal force to turn the pin, a thrust member seated in the hollow shaft and adapted to be acted on by said cam por-- tion; and a relatively fixed member carrying a contact mounted on the'generator, and a second member carrying a contact adapted to cooperate with the first, said second member being movably mounted on the generator in a position to be acted on by said governor,

and means acting on the second member to [return the governor to normal posltion and open said contacts.

7. In an automatic cutout for electrical generators, the combination ofa'relatively fixed member carrying a contact, a movable men'iber carrying a contact adapted to 00 operate with the first contact to control an electrical circuit, and a governor having a thrust member mounted in a hollow shaft end and adapted to act on the movable memher and a ring member mounted on the shaft endv and adapted to be actuated by centrifugal, force to-move thethrust member, said ring member being so mounted that it will move the thrust member only a predetermined distance as and for the purpose described.

8. In an automatic cutout for electrical generators, the combination of a relatively fixed member carrying a contact, a movable membercarrying a contact adapted to co- 7 operate with the first contact to control an open the said contacts when thespced falls below a predetermined value.

9. In an automatic cutout for electrical generz-ltors, the combination of a governor having the following instrunientalities, a hollow shaft end, a pin extending through said hollow shaft end and. having a cam portion in the hollow shaft, a ring mounted on the ends of the pin and adapted to be acted on by centrifugal force to turn the pin, a thrust member seated in the hollow shaft and adapted to be acted on by said cam portion; and a. lever pivoted on a support attached to the generator, said lever having two arms, one extending into the path of movement of said governor thrust member, the other carrying a contact; and a relati\-'el v fixed but flexible member carrying a contact mounted on said support, saidcon- 'tacts being adapted to control an electrical nnlvn v nfnonolcn. 

